By BRIAN HATYOKA –

THE Government has warned of stern action against people who misapply funds meant for public projects.
Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula said Government would not hestitate to deal with people who misapplied money meant for public projects.
Dr Simbyakula was speaking in Kazungula on Friday last week when he officially commissioned the newly constructed Kazungula Police Station at a cost of K684,306.95.
“The Patriotic Front (PF) Government has continued to finance projects which are spearheaded by the local administration staff countrywide so that the local people’s needs are prioritised and addressed,” Dr Simbyakula said.
“This requires serious commitment and accountability on the part of those responsible for the application of Government funds.”
The minister said Kazungula Police Station was constructed at great cost, hence there was need to safeguard the infrastructure.
“This police station we are officially opening today is for all of us and a lot of taxpayers’ money has been spent on the project.
Therefore, I urge all of us gathered here and in particular the police command to ensure that this wonderful police building maintains its beauty for many years to come,” he said.
Dr Simbyakula thanked the outgoing Southern Province Commissioner of Police Charity Katanga and her officers for their dedication to duty in the province.
He commended the Police Service for exhibiting high levels of professionalism before, during and after the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)  General Assembly in August last year.
And Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani urged Kazungula residents to work closely with the police to fight crime in the area.
Ms Libongani said her office would consider deploying more police officers to Kazungula Police Station.
“I am aware that having more officers on the ground will be a good deterrent measure to organised and trans-border crimes which are prevalent in this area,” Ms Libongani said.
“To members of the community in Kazungula, be whistle-blowers and report all law-breakers to the police because you have a duty to help rid your communities of criminal elements.”
Earlier, Ms Katanga said it was her privilege to see the commissioning of Kazungula Police
Station as she was involved from the time the contract was awarded.
“I thank the Government for supporting us in building this structure, the decentralisation policy is indeed working because most of the things we have been able to even follow them up and also pay for the money which was due to the contractor.
“This police station that we are witnessing today is indeed raising the profile of the Police
Service here in Kazungula,” she said.
Ms Katanga appealed to the Police Command and the Government to also consider other parts of the province such as Neganega Police Station and Gwembe
which may also need a facelift and construction.
Kazungula District Commissioner Pascalina Musokotwane said the new police station was a testimony that the PF Government was working.LCC boosts garbage collection system

By JACK MWEWA –

THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) in partnership with private waste management companies has enhanced the waste management systems to serve respective conventional and peri-urban areas in the city.
To implement an effective waste collection service in the conventional housing and commercial areas in Lusaka city, the council has realigned its waste management districts (WMD) increasing the zones to 16 from the initial 12.
Lusaka City Council assistant public relations manager, Brenda Katongola said this is meant to implement an effective waste collection service based on the Strategic Municipal Solid Waste Management plan that the council had embarked on.
“Waste collection will continue to be out-sourced to the private waste management companies through franchise contracts,” Ms Katongola said.
She said LCC was in the process of advertising the new WMD’s including those that were not being serviced.
The Ministry of Local Government and Housing recently purchased refuse compactor trucks and other garbage collection equipment valued at close to K26 million to ease the challenges of waste management disposal faced by most councils in Zambia.
The ministry has also purchased 16 utility vans for 14 of the newly created districts valued at K2.8 million and office equipment that included 28 computers purchased at a cost of K281, 680.00, 14 fax leaser jet printers worth K248,000.00 and 28 heavy duty printers at a cost of 48,000 for an estimated value of K3.4 million.
Local Government and Housing Minister, Emerine Kabanshi handed over eight refuse compactor trucks, four skip trucks, 172 skip bins and 20 cubic millimeter containers to 10 councils.

Great East Road works to create 1,000 jobs

By JULIUS PHIRI –

MORE than 1,000 jobs are expected to be created during the rehabilitation of the Great East Road from Nyimba to Luangwa Bridge by Mota-Engil Engenharia -E- Construcao SA.
Nyimba District Commissioner George Phiri said in a telephone interview from Nyimba last week that his office was receiving applications from people looking for employment in the road
construction.
Mr Phiri said successful applicants were expected to be employed this week.
“More than 1,000 people will be employed by Mota during the road rehabilitation of the Great East Road from Nyimba to Luangwa Bridge and right up now my office is receiving applications from people who want to be employed,” he said.
And about 30 kilometres of the Chadiza-Chipata Road has been worked on in preparation for tarring works by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC).
Company site manager Yimo Wang said the initial works involved grading and maintenance of the road.
Mr Wang said the company had stopped the works at Bwanunkha and moved on to work on Chadiza-Katete Road.
He said the works had been delayed due to the rain but assured Chadiza residents that everything was in place to carry out the project.
Mr Wang said by April this year, the company would start the actual tarring works of the road.
He said that all the deviations had been completed, which motorists would be using while the contractor was working on the main road.
The project, which involves Chipata-Chadiza and Chadiza-Katete roads, would gobble up more than K541 million.

Invest in solid waste, Kabanshi urges investors

By NAKUBIANA MUMBUNA –

LOCAL Government and Housing Minister Emerine Kabanshi has called on the private sector to invest in solid waste recycling plants in Zambia.
The minister said during the ‘Re-branding’ of the clean-up Zambia campaign in Lusaka that the Government would like to see a situation where solid waste management would contribute to employment creation
in the country.
The make ‘Zambia clean and health campaign’ has been re-branded to be called ‘Clean up Zambia’.
Ms Kabanshi said that establishment of recycling plants in Zambia would not only lead to income generation and employment creation but also lead to clean environments.
“The Government encourages investors to invest in solid waste recycling plants,” Ms Kabanshi said.
“For example, the establishment of a recycling plant in Kafue by Trade Kings Zambia has added value to
scrap metals.
“Scrap metal has since become a money-making venture and is no longer part of the garbage we see around.”
Ms Kabanshi called on the council to engage business-minded and innovative private sector institutions that had communications and marketing skills that would contribute to changing the mindset of the
communities.
Meanwhile, Ms Kabanshi has acknowledged that the country still faced challenges with regard to garbage collection and general cleanliness in surroundings despite launching the ‘Zambia clean and healthy campaign’ six years ago.
Ms Kabanshi said this is why the Government through her ministry established a solid waste management unit to coordinate solid waste management activities through local authorities.
She said her ministry would also facilitate the development and implementation of a national solid waste management policy.